"The floods have killed two people."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Floods have hit four districts in North Sumatra, killing two people and one person is missing, said a spokesman of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).

"Four districts that have been affected by floods are South Nias, Central Tapanuli, West Nias and Mandailing Natal. The floods have killed two people. One person is missing. In addition, thousands of houses have been submerged," said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, BNPB`s data, information and public relations head, on Monday.

Western Nias is a low-pressure area, which is why it is easily affected by heavy downpours and floods, he said.

"South Nias is prone to floods. The region has become flooded, following heavy downpours that have lasted for more than 24 hours," he added.

Seven sub districts have been flooded since Saturday. These sub districts are Telukdalam, Fanayama, Maniamolo, Amandraya, Lahusa, Lolowau and Gomo.

"In Maniamolo and Amandraya, two people have been killed, after being swept away by River Eho. 1,300 people have taken refuge in Telukdalam: 300 people are from Telukdalam and 1,000 others are from Baloho," he said.

The refugees are being accommodated in the BNKP Yohanes Church in Telukdalam.

In Central Tapanuli, floods have affected 11 sub districts: Barus, Andem Dewi, Manduamas, Kolang, Tapian Nauli, Sorkam, Pandan, Sarudik, Tukka, Pinang Sori and Badiri. There have been no reports of casualties, but a number of houses have been damaged.

In West Nias, sub districts which have been affected by floods are Mandrehe, West Mandrehe Barat, Lah`mi and Sirombu. Flood waters have reached a height of 3 meters.

In Mandailing Natal, a landslide has occurred, destroying one house in the Lingga Bayu village. Taher, 68, is missing. Landslides have also occurred in the villages of Aek Galingging and Sigala-gala.

Natal Sub has been submerged (up to 50 cm deep). Around 1,000 people have been affected.

Local authorities have distributed an aid package to victims of the floods.

"The district head of South Nias has declared a state of emergency for 14 days, from Sunday (December 30, 2012) to Saturday (January 12, 2013)," he said.

In the meantime, heavy floods in the Nagari Tiku Lima Jorong village, Agam district, West Sumatra, on Sunday have cut off at least 1,500 families, according to a village head.

"The floods were caused by the overflow of Batang Antokan and Masang rivers in the villages of Jorong Subang-Subang, Labuan, Muaro Putih, Masang and Gadih Angik, with floodwaters reaching a height of up to one metre," the head of the Nagari Tiku Lima Jorong, Bagindo Rosman, said here on Monday.

"I was informed that the people there have run out of food," he stated, adding that some 100 out of the 1,500 families were trapped in villages that were inundated with 1.5 metre-high floods.

The 100 families are from the villages of Tiga Kampung Jambu, Empat Pinang Baririk and Delta.

"Now, some of them have taken refuge in a mosque and a school building," he said.

Meanwhile, the Agam chief of Regional Disaster Management Agency, Bambang Warsito, noted that his office had deployed two boats to relocate the residents trapped in the floods.
(Uu.B003/INE/KR-BSR)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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